Friday News, November 30th

(Le Mars) — The pending storm has already prompted some cancellations and postponements including the Floyd Valley Healthcare’s Auxiliary Christmas Goodie Sale has now been pushed back until next Friday afternoon, December 7th. That holiday goodie sale will now take place between 2:00 p.m. and
6:00 p.m. Another postponement is with the Remsen recycling. Due to the threat of the pending storm, the Remsen Recycling will NOT be accepting paper and cardboard products this Saturday as previously scheduled.

Weather Services Official Explains What To Expect For Weekend Winter Storm

(Le Mars) — Much has been said about the pending winter storm approaching northwest Iowa, but what can we expect? Peter Rogers, a meteorologist with the National Weather Services of Sioux Falls offers this update.

Rogers says for this area he is predicting between four and seven inches of snow for the weekend. He advises motorists with travel plans to adjust accordingly.

Sheriff’s Office Warns About Email Scam

(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is warning people about another new scam that appears as an email message. The email message falsely uses the name of a Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputy. Lt. Jeff TeBrink says
officers were first alerted to the scam Thursday morning.

(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Conservation Board submitted its annual report to the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors earlier this week. Nick Beeck, the Conservation Board Executive Director informed the county governing board camping has been steadily increasing.

Beeck reported to the county supervisors the total collected from camping fees generated $36,150 which was slightly lower than the previous year when the Conservation Board had collected $36,260. Beeck says the Conservation Board provided 1,904 camper unit nights during the year. Beeck says the use
of the picnic shelter house increased from last year collecting $550 this year compared to last year of receiving just $100. The Plymouth County Conservation Board has available two camping cabins for rental. Cabin fees collected $3,195 for the nights occupied, compared to last year of $4,992.
Where the Plymouth County Conservation Board had excelled was with educational programs. Beeck says a total of 7,595 people were reached through 230 programs, bringing in $2,994 which was in line with budget projections. Beeck says the rental of the Dennis Sohl Center for Outdoor Learning has generated some revenue and continues to grow in popularity.

The County Conservation Board was able to collect $6,125 from the rental of the Outdoor Learning Center which compares to the $5,500 collected from the previous year. Beeck informed the supervisors the two highlights of the year for the Conservation Board were the installation of the new playground equipment, and the acquisition of the 305 acres of the Newberg ground, which more than doubled the size of Hillview Recreation Area.

Canadian Woman Stuck In Mud For Three Days

FAIRFIELD, Iowa (AP) – A Canadian woman was found by snowmobilers after she spent three days stuck with her car on a muddy rural road in southeast Iowa.
Seventy-two-year-old Terry Harnish, of Hubbards, Nova Scotia, was visiting friends on Thanksgiving when she took a wrong turn onto a dirt road outside Fairfield. Her car became mired in mud up to its wheel wells, and she was unable to walk to one of the farmhouses she’d passed.
The Des Moines Register reports that she spent the next three days in her car, surviving on a tea drink and marzipan cake.
Fairfield police Lt. Colin Smith says Harnish had ended up on a dirt road that’s just not traveled this time of year.
The heavy snow that fell Sunday proved her salvation, because it
brought out two teenage snowmobilers whose attention she attracted with her car lights and horn. Their father used a tractor to take Harnish back into Fairfield.
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Democrat State Legislator Candidate Sues Over Ballots Not Counted

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Democratic candidate in a northeast Iowa House district trailing by just nine votes has sued, seeking to force election officials to count 33 ballots left uncounted because they lack a postmark.
Kayla Koether (KAY-tuhr) filed a motion Thursday seeking a temporary injunction in Polk County District Court to stop Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate from certifying incumbent Republican Michael Bergan as the House District 55 winner on Monday.
She also is asking the court to require Pate and Winneshiek County Auditor Ben Steines to confirm with the U.S. Postal Service that its barcode information on the ballots can prove they were mailed by the day before Election Day, the deadline required by Iowa law.
State law allows ballot envelopes with a postmark or an intelligent mail barcode traceable to a date to be counted but using postal service barcodes is not common practice and ballots without traditional postmarks often are not counted by many counties.

Gun Found In Luggage At Des Moines Airport

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Federal security agents say a gun was found this week in the carry-on bag of a passenger at the Des Moines International Airport – the 11th gun found at the airport this year.
Television station KCCI reports that Transportation Security
Administration workers discovered the loaded handgun Wednesday during an X-ray screening of the bag.
Des Moines police are investigating to determine whether the
passenger will face criminal charges.
Travelers who bring a firearm to airport checkpoints also are
subject to a civil penalty from the TSA of up to $13,000.
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Iowa’s Medical Marijuana Program To Begin Operations On Saturday

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s new medical marijuana program will get started Saturday as dispensaries open in five spots around the state.
Dispensaries are set to open in Council Bluffs, Davenport, Sioux
City, Windsor Heights and Waterloo.
The 2017 Medical Cannabidiol Act allows the use of cannabidiol that has no more than 3 percent THC, the compound in marijuana that causes a high.
Iowa doctors can certify patients with one of several debilitating
medical conditions, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, seizures, HIV, AIDS, Parkinson’s disease and Crohn’s disease.
MedPharm is manufacturing all of the state’s legal marijuana
products, which include capsules, tinctures and creams.
Sarah Reisetter is the deputy director of the Iowa Department of
Public Health. She says the state’s medical cannabidiol board has a “compassionate use” goal.